Storage means

ABSTRACT

A board holder comprising a wall mounting bracket  1  supporting a curved steel bar  2.  The bar  2  is able to pivot or swing up and down with respect to the bracket and will tend to swing downwards under gravity unless such swing is arrested. The bar  2  is curved so that it doubles back on itself in front of the bracket  1.  This creates a space  3  between opposite portions of the bar with an entrance  4  opening into the space for receiving a snow board or surfboard, etc. The board, etc, is held between a first contact part  6  and a second contact part  7  of the bar. Gravity, coupled with the weight of the bar  2  and the board  5  serve to hold the board in position with a lower part  11  of the board  5  butting against the wall  12.  The board  5  thus angles outwardly from the wall up towards the board holder.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to storage means. A particularly preferred form of the invention relates to storage means for storing snowboards, surfboards, skateboards, wake boards, or kite boards.

BACKGROUND

A problem with sporting and recreational equipment such as snowboards, surfboards, skateboards, wake boards, and kite boards is that they can be inconvenient to store in a neat and tidy fashion. It is accordingly an object of at least one form of the present invention to go at least some way towards addressing this problem, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided storage means, which has a wall mounting, and a first contact part which turns to and joins or merges with a second contact part such that the first and second contact parts are substantially continuous with respect to one another, the first and second contact parts being capable of collectively pivoting with respect to the wall mounting, there being a space between the first and second contact parts and an opening into the space; the storage means being formed such that when it is in use the wall mounting can be mounted to a wall so that a snow board, a surfboard, a skateboard, a wake board, a kite board, a water ski, or a snow ski, can be guided by hand into the space by way of the entrance and released so that gravity acting on the board or ski, as the case may be, and on the first and second contact parts causes the board or ski to be jammed between the first and second contact parts at three or more distinct contact points, to hold the board or ski in an elevated disposition at or adjacent the wall.

Preferably the storage means functions as described above when a part of the board or ski is jammed between the first and second contact portions is substantially planar.

Preferably the first and second contact parts form different portions of a curved bar.

Preferably the first contact part is nearer the wall mounting than the second contact part, one of the contact points is on the first contact part, and two of the contact points are on the second contact part.

Preferably the contact parts have cushioning arranged to protect the board or ski, as the case may be, from marking when it is jammed between the contact parts.

Preferably the cushioning is in the form of a soft sleeve or sleeves.

Optionally the first contact part forms part of the wall mounting.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of using storage means as described above, when the storage means is mounted on a wall, comprising the steps of:

-   -   i) passing at least part of the board of ski through the         entrance into the space, and     -   ii) allowing the first and second contact parts to swing         downwards about the wall mounting to jam against the board or         ski such that the board or ski is held in an elevated         disposition.

DRAWINGS

Some preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snow board holder in place on a wall surface;

FIG. 2 is side view showing the snow board holder in use with a snow board;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view demonstrating the manner of contact between the snow board holder and the snow board;

FIGS. 5, 6 & 7 show various views of a snow board holder according to a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 shows a board holder according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a snow board holder comprising a wall mounting bracket 1 supporting a curved steel bar 2. The bar 2 is able to pivot or swing up and down with respect to the bracket and will tend to swing downwards under gravity unless such swing is arrested. The bar 2 is curved so that it doubles back on itself in front of the bracket. As can be seen, this creates a space 3 between opposite portions of the bar with an entrance 4 opening into the space.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when the snow board holder is in use the bar 2 can be swung to a substantially horizontal disposition and a snow board 5 passed through the entrance 4 and into the space 3. Carefully releasing the bar 2 causes it to swing downwards under gravity so that the snow board 5 is jammed within the space 3. More specifically, the snow board is held between a first contact part 6 and a second contact part 7 of the bar. Referring to FIG. 4, the snow board 5 makes contact at one contact point 8 on the first contact part 6 and at two contact points 9 and 10 on the second contact part 7. Gravity, coupled with the weight of the bar 2 and the snow board 5 serve to hold the snow board in position with a lower part 11 of the board 5 butting against the wall 12. The snow board 5 thus angles outwardly from the wall up towards the snow board holder.

Referring to FIG. 4, the bar 2 has cushioning 13 applied as a sleeve or sleeves at the first and second contact parts 6 and 7, and especially in the vicinity of the distinct contact points 8, 9 and 10 (the contact points are “distinct” in that they are not simply different regions of a continuous contact point). This serves to protect the snow board from undesired marking. The cushioning may be any suitable material, for example thermoplastic polypropylene. It will be appreciated that in FIG. 4 the bracket 1 is omitted so as to show a stem 14 of the bar which engages the bracket in pivotal fashion. The pivoting movement of the bar is indicated by reference number 15 at FIG. 2.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the snow board holder can be made in any dimensions suitable for holding one or more snowboards, one or skateboards, one or more surfboards, one or more wake boards, or one or more kite boards. In some embodiments the invention may be formed in dimensions suitable for hanging skis in essentially the same way described above. The inventive principle is in each case the same, although it may be necessary to adjust the dimensions of the bar and bracket depending on the size and weight of the item to be held. It should also be appreciated that the invention can be adapted for use with other items, for example sheets of wall board or the like. Items with planar services are preferred although the invention can also be applied to other types of article.

In the embodiment of the invention described with reference to the drawings, the snow board holder is arranged so that when in use there will be three points of contact 8, 9 and 10 with the item being held. However, in some cases holder may be formed so that there are two, four, or more points of contact.

FIG. 5 is a front on view of a board or ski holder 16 according to a further embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 shows the holder 16 mounted on a wall, and FIG. 7 is a side view showing the holder 16 when wall mounted and supporting a snow board 17. The holder 16 is used in a similar fashion to that described above, eg with three contact points, except that in this case the wall mounting bracket 18 provides a direct first point of contact with the board 17. Two other points of contact are provided by the front bar 19 (which preferably has cushioning). The board 17 is thus jammed between the front bar 19 and the bracket 18.

FIG. 8 demonstrates the shape and configuration of the contact points 20, 21 and 22 of a preferred embodiment of the invention, particularly adapted for use with a surf board 23 or snow board.

While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims. 

1. Storage means, having a wall mounting, and a first contact part which turns to and joins or merges with a second contact part such that the first and second contact parts are substantially continuous with respect to one another, the first and second contact parts being capable of collectively pivoting with respect to the wall mounting, there being a space between the first and second contact parts and an opening into the space; the storage means being formed such that when it is in use the wall mounting can be mounted to a wall so that a snow board, a surfboard, a skateboard, a wake board, a kite board, a water ski, or a snow ski, can be guided by hand into the space by way of the entrance and released so that gravity acting on the board or ski, as the case may be, and on the first and second contact parts causes the board or ski to be jammed between the first and second contact parts at three or more distinct contact points, to hold the board or ski in an elevated disposition at or adjacent the wall.
 2. Storage means according to claim 1, formed so that it functions as described in claim 1 when a part of the board or ski which is substantially planar is jammed between the first and second contact portions.
 3. Storage means according to claim 1, wherein the first and second contact parts form different portions of a curved bar.
 4. Storage means according to claim 1, formed so that the first contact part is nearer the wall mounting than the second contact part, one of the contact points is on the first contact part, and two of the contact points are on the second contact part.
 5. Storage means according to claim 1, formed so that the first contact part is nearer the wall mounting than the second contact part, one of the contact points is on the first contact part, and two of the contact points are on the second contact part, and wherein the contact parts have cushioning arranged to protect the board or ski, as the case may be, from marking when it is jammed between the contact parts.
 6. Storage means according to claim 5, wherein the cushioning is in the form of a soft sleeve or sleeves.
 7. Storage means according to claim 1, wherein there is a snow board, a surfboard, a skateboard, a wake board, a kite board, a water ski, or a snow ski jammed between the two contact parts.
 8. Storage means according to claim 1, specifically adapted for use with a snow board.
 9. Storage means according to claim 1, wherein the first contact part forms part of the wall mounting.
 10. Storage means according to claim 9, wherein the contact parts have cushioning arranged to protect the board or ski, as the case may be, from marking when it is jammed between the contact parts.
 11. A method of using storage means when the storage means is mounted on a wall, the storage means formed according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: i) passing at least part of the board or ski through the entrance into the space, and ii) allowing the first and second contact parts to swing downwards about the wall mounting to jam against the board or ski such that the board or ski is held in an elevated disposition.
 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the board or ski is a snowboard, a surfboard, a skateboard or a wake board.
 13. Storage means, having a wall mounting, and a first contact part which turns to and joins or merges with a second contact part such that the first and second contact parts are substantially continuous with respect to one another, the first and second contact parts being capable of collectively pivoting with respect to the wall mounting, there being a space between the first and second contact parts and an opening into the space; the storage means formed such that when it is in use the wall mounting can be mounted to a wall so that a snow board, a surfboard, a skateboard, a wake board, a kite board, a water ski, or a snow ski, can be guided by hand into the space by way of the entrance and released so that gravity acting on the board or ski, as the case may be, and on the first and second contact parts causes a substantially planar part of the board or ski to be jammed between the first and second contact parts at three or more distinct contact points, to hold the board or ski in an elevated disposition at or adjacent the wall; the first contact part being nearer the wall mounting than the second contact part, one of the contact points being on the first contact part and two of the contact points being on the second contact part; and the contact parts having cushioning arranged to protect the board or ski, as the case may be, from marking when it is jammed between the contact parts.
 14. Storage means according to claim 13, wherein there is a snow board, a surfboard, a skateboard, a wake board, a kite board, a water ski, or a snow ski jammed between the two contact parts. 